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Thu, July 05, 2007 09:53:48 PMFrom:
Global Exchange - News & Action
Subject:
Declare your Freedom!
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 News & Action |
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 Dear friend of Global Exchange, The repercussions of our reliance on fossil fuels are increasingly obvious ?war, climate change, destruction of habitats and the loss of livelihoods for so many people around the world. Yet despite these realities, a record 41.4 million Americans still hit the roads for Independence Day travel this year. Our continuously relentless consumption of oil displays that the high costs of our dependence are hardly a deterrent. Clearly, it's not just that the U.S. is dependent on oil?we are positively addicted to it! Like any addiction, our addiction to oil is dangerous. The United States has less than five percent of the world's population, yet every year we use more than 25 percent of the p***t's oil production. Today the U.S. imports 55 percent of all the oil we use. By 2025, we will depend on foreign sources for up to 68 percent of all our oil. There's no time like the present to mark our independence by declaring our freedom?from oil!
The Impact of Our AddictionOur addiction to oil is the critical link fueling two of the greatest catastrophes of our time, war and climate change. US addiction to oil drove us into the Iraq war and poses a continual threat for future fossil fuel based conflicts. The burning of oil is dangerously heating up our atmosphere melting the Arctic and Greenland before our eyes, disappearing small island nations as sea levels rise, and creating extreme climate events and super storms like Hurricane Katrina. The resulting war and global warming, being fueled by our addiction to oil, pose an unarguable threat to the movement towards building a positive and sustainable future: Environmental Impact War?Shortly before the 2003 attack, experts warned that war in Iraq would cause "massive and possibly irreversible" environmental damage to the Persian Gulf region adding to the harmful impacts of global warming. Warming-- Oil addiction endangers our environment as rainforests are cut down to make way for oil wells and as we fuel global climate change. As sea levels rise, due to climate change, it is disappearing small island nations, threatening the disappearance of vital ecosystems. Social Impact War--Reliance on oil also unduly influences US foreign policy, helping to push the United States into unnecessary conflicts that generate resentment toward us. Furthermore, oil addiction is endangering human rights as communities who oppose petroleum extraction suffer repression. Warming-- Pollution caused by our addiction to fossil fuels, has a disproportionate impact on America's children, elderly, low-income families, and people of color. More than 118 million Americans live in cities that exceed current federal health guidelines for air quality. Economic Impact War--In August 2005, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the cost of continuing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan at current levels would nearly double the projected federal budget deficit over the next ten years. Warming--Oil addiction endangers our economy as rising gasoline prices wreak havoc on family budgets and the U.S. loses clean energy market share to companies in Japan and Europe. By 2020, our importation of oil is expected to rise to more than 60 percent, increasing our trade deficit. Let's kick our addiction and stop fueling war and climate change!Act Locally Gas guzzling puts us all at risk. If we want a secure nation, a safe environment, and a strong economy, we need to free ourselves of the petroleum habit. Let's kick the addiction to oil by making changes in our daily lives and in our communities to build towards a clean and sustainable energy economy. Act Globally The Iraq war and the threat of climate change are the twin global threats that millions of Americans said they wanted immediate action on after the U.S. mid-term election. But as Iraq continues to devolve into violence and chaos, and as we hit another year of record warm temperatures, our legislators are failing to respond to the will of the people. Building a clean energy economy is not rocket science. Workable alternatives to the carbon economy exist, while the U.S. government wastes $20 billion a year subsidizing fossil fuels. Sustainable technologies are functional, feasible and economically viable today- and yet our politicians continue to use OUR tax money to support and subsidize Big Oil to the tune of billions of dollars every year. Let's continue to pressure Congress to fight climate change, NOT wars for oil! For more information on the impacts of global climate change read the BBC report, Climate change around the world For a brief history on oil fueled violent conflict read the BBC report, Oil and conflict - a natural mix Thanks, as always, for your hard work on behalf of peace and justice, Global Exchange |
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